Packers president takes labor case to customers, too

Posted by Mike Florio on November 27, 2010, 12:50 PM EST

AP

Earlier this month, Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver sent a message to all season-ticket holders regarding the league’s labor situation, explaining his belief that there’s “no question” a new deal will be completed.

It’s a feeling that most share; the bigger question is when.

According to Tony Walter of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Packers president Mark Murphy has sent a similar letter to the team’s season-ticket holders, saying there’s “no doubt” a labor deal is coming.

Again, when is the source of most doubt.

The portions of Murphy’s letter quoted by Walter suggest that, while not identical to Weaver’s message, the two men were working off the same talking points, or Murphy opted to merely pay homage to Weaver, which is a fancy way of saying “copy him”.

“Our negotiations with the union are professional, not personal,” Murphy said, a sentiment expressed by Weaver and an idea that rings somewhat hollow given the recent public rancor between the two sides.

Regardless, the union is willing to conduct a December “lock-in” in the hopes of getting a deal done. NFL outside labor counsel Bob Batterman seems to be interested. The league, however, has yet to unequivocally agree to devote a multi-week block of time to getting a deal done before the end of the year.

As NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said on Friday’s edition of The Dan Patrick Show, it would be a great Christmas gift from the league and the union to the fans.

For now, they’re opting instead to point at the Golden Goose a Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time.

I don’t know about anybody else, but as far as I’m concerned, the more confident they sound about a deal getting done, the further apart I think they are. It’s like a salesman saying “no problem.” The more he says no problem…the more reason there is to worry about a problem!Between them, they’ll manage to ice the 2011 season.

The guy is a dope. He comes from one of the losingest colleges of all time, NW. And under his reign the Packer’s profits have plummeted. Jones, the guy who was supposed to replace Harlen, was pushed aside so Ted Thompson could bring in a yes-man to do whatever he wants. Other then that, I can’t think of one thing that Murphy has done to help the franchise.

footballrulz says:Nov 27, 2010 1:17 PM

You’ll put your eye out with that thing. How about a nice table lamp instead?